Geography

Most of Mali, in West Africa, lies in the
Sahara. A landlocked country four-fifths the size of Alaska, it is
bordered by Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and
the Côte d'Ivoire. The only fertile area is in the south, where the
Niger and Senegal rivers provide water for irrigation.

Government

Republic.

History

Caravan routes have passed through Mali since
A.D.
300. The Malinke empire ruled regions of
Mali from the 12th to the 16th century, and the Songhai empire reigned
over the Timbuktu-Gao region in the 15th century. Morocco conquered
Timbuktu in 1591 and ruled over it for two centuries. Subjugated by France
by the end of the 19th century, the land became a colony in 1904 (named
French Sudan in 1920) and in 1946 became part of the French Union. On June
20, 1960, it became independent and, under the name of Sudanese Republic,
was joined with the Republic of Senegal in the Mali federation. However,
Senegal seceded from the federation on Aug. 20, 1960, and the Sudanese
Republic then changed its name to the Republic of Mali on Sept. 22.